Maximilian Krah, a prominent German far-right lawmaker, will continue as the Alternative for Germany party’s top candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections despite the arrest of his assistant, Jian Guo, on suspicion of spying for China. Guo, who worked for Krah since his election to the European Union legislature in 2019, is accused of passing on information on negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament and snooping on Chinese dissidents in Germany.
A staffer working for a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) has been arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage for China. The accused, identified as Jian G., was detained in Dresden. The identity of the MEP remains undisclosed, but Der Spiegel magazine has linked the suspect to Maximilian Krah of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. The suspect allegedly worked with Krah since 2019 and resided in both Brussels and Dresden. The accused is scheduled to appear before a judge at Germany’s Federal Court of Justice, where a decision will be made on an arrest warrant and pre-trial detention. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has labeled the allegations as ‘extremely serious,’ asserting that such acts are an assault on European democracy. The AfD party has expressed concern, calling for patience in the ongoing investigation. The arrest comes amidst heightened scrutiny of espionage activities and follows the detention of three German nationals for alleged collaboration with China’s MSS.
